Los Angeles - Neil Patrick Harris won kudos Sunday for his debut outing as Oscars host, mocking the gala's lack of racial diversity and stripping down to his Y-fronts in a nod to Birdman.
"Today we honour Hollywood's best and whitest. Sorry, brightest," the 41-year-old comic quipped as the three-and-a-half-hour gala, telecast worldwide, got under way.
The deliberate slip of the tongue acknowledged the striking absence of non-white performers among this year's crop of Academy Award nominees.
Clearly relishing his Oscar duties, Harris went on to spoof Michael Keaton's underwear scene in Birdman which went on to win best picture appearing on stage in white briefs, black socks and nothing else.